ESPN's prediction of Saturday's game between Auburn and Georgia

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Auburn basketball opens SEC play on Saturday, and wants to start the new year with a victory. Will Auburn escape Stegeman Coliseum with a win over a red-hot Georgia squad?

ESPN gives No. 24 Georgia a slight advantage in Saturday's game. According to ESPN's matchup predictor, Georgia has a 57.1% chance of beating Auburn on Saturday. A correct prediction would push Auburn to 0-1 in SEC play.

Georgia bests Auburn in several categories, including points per game, points allowed, rebounds, steals, and field goal percentage. Auburn's leading scorer, Keyshawn Hall, averages 20.1 points per game, compared to Georgia's Jeremiah Wilkinson, who scores 17.3 per game. Hall is also out-rebounding Georgia's leader, Somtochukwu Cyril, 8.0-6.4.

What could help Auburn on Saturday is its nonconference slate. The Tigers enter the game with a 9-4 record, with all four losses coming against teams currently ranked in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll top 10. According to KenPom's analytics, Georgia holds the nation's No. 348 schedule, having not played a team ranked higher than No. 35, a game it lost vs. Clemson. Will the battle-tested Tigers escape Athens with a win?

Auburn faces Georgia on Saturday at noon CT. SEC Network will air the game live.

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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn basketball vs. Georgia ESPN prediction

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